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CES 2014: 5 epic, weird and ridiculous new products

This years CES is all about curved displays and experimental products

Patrick O'Rourke

Published: January 7, 2014 - 3:01 PM

Updated: January 8, 2014 - 1:53 PM

Every year giant consumer electronic companies like Samsung, Sony, and LG hold press conferences and parade amazing-looking, ridiculously expensive, products across the stage for consumers and journalists to drool over at the annual Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas.

Some of these products will never actually be released to the general public and, if they actually are, will have ridiculously expensive price tags.

Below is a collection of some of the coolest, most expensive, and most ridiculous products revealed so far.

1. Samsung revealed a ridiculous 8K television

Gizmodo shot these images of Samsung’s 8K TV in action.

4K televisions still aren’t widely available, but Samsung has already revealed an 8K ridiculously-super-high-resolution television. Samsung’s prototype television is 98-inches and is only 4mm thick. It also obviously doesn’t have a price tag and probably won’t be available to the public for at least four years, according to a Samsung executive.

Sit back for a minute and try to imagine how awesome it would look in your living room. Then remember that there isn’t even really a way to shoot 8K video yet. Still, it would look cool, right?

Oculus’ new project, code named Crystal Cove, features an AMOLED screen, and the ability to monitor user head movements in real space through a special camera. The external mounted camera tracks LED lights on the Crystal Cove’s faceplate, giving this version of the Rift added tracking ability.

Previously the only way to add this feature to the rift was by taping a Razer Hydra motion controller to the side of an Oculus Rift headset. The motion effect can also be created through the use of other motion-based controllers.

It’s assumed these features will be included in Oculus’ official consumer release later this year, although some reports indicate the Rift might not see a 2014 release.

3. The TREWGrip makes your iPad massive but it could be useful

TREWGrip seems like it will probably only appeal to a very small audience.

The TREWGrip splits the traditional keyboard in half, placing the tablet in the centre. It seems specifically designed for people who can’t stand typing on a traditional touch screen.

While interesting, it looks like it would probably take a significant amount of time to get the hang of typing with the TREWGrip, making buying a regular, smaller Bluetooth keyboard possibly a better option. It also makes your smartphone or tablet significantly less portable.

The fact that you have to type behind the keyboard, is also a little strange.

4. RAZER’s Project Christine makes building a PC Noob friendly

Project Christine is probably the only way I’d be able to build my own gaming PC.

Building a PC with Project Christine, seems like it’s about as easy as it is to build something with Lego. The PC’s tower contains a variety of PCI slots for specific computer components like video cards, graphics cards, SSDs and CPUs. All you need to do is snap in a new component for it to be automatically integrated with your computer.

Right now RAZER is just gauging consumer interest in Project Christine’s concept and has no plans to actually manufacture it yet. A major hurdle for the concept of a modular PC is getting video and graphics card manufacturers on board with the idea so they’ll develop products fitting RAZER’s form factor.

Hardcore PC gamers will scoff at the idea of an easily upgradable PC, but this concept could potentially help popularize PC gaming.

5. Curved TVs were everywhere at CES this year

It’s hard not to be impressed by Samsung’s insane 105″ curved TV.

Curved televisions are the thing at this year’s CES. Samsung’s UHD 105-inch curved 4K (also known as UltraHD) TV certainly is impressive and the company says this TV is the world’s largest curved televison (although LG also revealed a nearly identical TV). Samsung also has plans to launch a U9000 series 4K 78-inch, 65-inch and 55-inch curved television as well.

They look cool, but what’s the point in a curved screen? It seems to add very little to the television viewing experience. Also, while 4K televisions look great, there is very little UltraHD media available right now, although Netflix intends to change this in the near future.

You can actually buy this TV today for the extremely low price of $69,999. Can I pre-order two?